New Yorkers protest to have GMO foods labeled

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Genetically Modified Organisms — or GMOs — have been in our food chain for more than 15 years.

Agri-giants like Monsanto tout their resistance to pesticides, herbicides, disease and drought.

But corporate giants like Monsanto are fighting advocates like GMOFreeNY over whether GMO labeling should appear on the altered foods you likely eat every day.

“We need to know because there’s never been any long-term independent safety studies on human consumption. We want to be the first state in the nation to pass a bill labeling genetically-modified food in our food supply in New York state. I think we can do it,” said Kathleen Furey of GMO Free NY.

GMO Free NY isn’t the only organization that wants to you to have the right to know beforehand whether you’re eating that supersized, insecticide-proof tomato.

Hundreds of people protested against Monsanto this weekend in New York City.

We turned to Pix11’s Lionel – a proud vegan – to explain what all the fuss is about.

“This is about being able to know, and to be aware of what you’re consuming. What are you eating? So all this is – this isn’t about ‘ban GMOs.’ No one is suggesting that yet. This is about merely allowing you and your family to know what you’re eating,” said Lionel.

Monsanto – and other GMO manufacturers have the support of the FDA – which has ruled the foods safe for human consumption.

On its website, Monsanto tackles the issue head on, stating “We oppose current initiatives to mandate labeling of ingredients developed from GM seeds in the absence of any demonstrated risks. Such mandatory labeling could imply that food products containing these ingredients are somehow inferior to their conventional or organic counterparts.”

At the time of airing, Monsanto did not respond to our request for comment on this story.